Hibiscus plant named ‘Multi Tropic Red’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Multi Tropic Red’, characterized by its upright, uniformly mounding and bushy plant habit; shiny dark green-colored leaves; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit; bright red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MULTI TROPIC RED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Multi Tropic Red’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact, uniform, strong and freely-branching Hibiscus plants with continuous flowering and attractive long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from an open-pollination in September, 2006 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2006-0006, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since October, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Multi Tropic Red’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Multi Tropic Red’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, uniformly mounding and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Shiny dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Bright red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers.     -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection         differ in leaf shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have orange red-colored flowers.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are longer-lasting than         flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Arionicus’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,746. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Arionicus’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Arionicus’ differed in leaf         color and shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Arionicus’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus had narrower petals         than flowers of plants of ‘Arionicus’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Juno’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,674. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Juno’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Juno’ differed in leaf shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Juno’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Juno’ had red purple-colored flowers.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as         long-lasting as flowers of plants of ‘Juno’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Multi Tropic Red’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical developing flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘Multi Tropic Red’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time about nine to ten weeks after planting. Plants were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Multi Tropic Red’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2006-0006, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four weeks             at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About nine             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 158A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, uniformly mounding and             bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about             four to six lateral branches developing per plant; pinching             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; with development, becoming woody.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146B.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 197A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.         -   Length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm to 10 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate to incised.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; venation,             recessed.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation,             prominent.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Very glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A;             venation, close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 147A and N199A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with             numerous flower buds and open flowers per plant at one time;             flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during             the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in             the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants             begin flowering about 10 to 17 weeks after pinching.         -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last about             two days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7 cm to 9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Color: Close to 46A             and 1C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five imbricate petals in a single             whorl. Length: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Width: About 4 cm to             6 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire, slightly undulate. Texture, upper surface:             Glabrous, rugose; venation, slightly prominent. Texture,             lower surface: Glabrous, rugose; venation, prominent.             Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 46B; towards the base,             close to 53A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 46B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 46B; towards the base,             close to 53A; venation, close to 43C; with development, main             color becoming closer to 45B. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 46B; venation, close to 1C and 45A; with             development, main color becoming closer to 45A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.             Width: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Rugose,             pubescent; venation, prominent. Texture, lower surface:             Slightly pubescent; venation, recessed. Luster, upper             surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Slightly glossy.             Color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface:             Close to 144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A and N199A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 100. Staminal column length: About 6 cm to 7 cm.             Staminal column color: Towards the base, close to 46A;             mid-section, close to 50A; and towards the apex, close to             54B. Filament length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to 54B. Anther shape: Ovate, rounded. Anther length:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 19A. Amount of             pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium:             Pistil length (including staminal column): About 7 cm to             8 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to             11D. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color:             Close to 46A. Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to have tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Multi Tropic Red’ as illustrated and described. 